Ball-bearing for the type-bars of type-writing machines.



U. U. KAVLE. BALL BEARING FOR THE TYPE BARS OF TYPE WRITING MACHINES APPLICATION FILED 0'01" 9, 1900.

tin PATNT ori icii.

OSCAR C. KAVLE, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGINOR T HARVEY A. MOYER AND EMMI'I G. LATTA, 0F SYRACUSE, NEW

YORK.

BALL-BEARING FOR THE TYPE-BARS OF TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

Application filed October 9, 1906. Serial No. 338,190.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OSCAR C. KAVLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at ,Qyracuse in the county of Onondaga and Stateof New York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin BalLBearings for the Type-Bars of Type-\Vriting Machines, of which the following is a specification. I This invention relates more-particularly to ball bearings for the typebars of typewriting machines.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an adjustable ball bearing of a construction which can be manufactured and assembled atthe miniinum cost, and which will be rigid and durable but very compact, thereby especially adapting it for the typebars of typewritiiig machineswhich, on account of the available space in the machine for the large number of bearings required, must be very closely arranged.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction of ball hearings inthe respects hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

These objects are attained in the different constructions shown in the drawings and hereinafter described.

In all of the bearings illustrated and described a single row of balls is employed in an annular race way formed between the bearing faces of the type-bar or movable member and the supporting hanger or fixed member. One of the members has a cone, or part with a conical bearing face, which adjustable toward the opposing cone or part to take up looseness or to compensate fol-wear in the bearing, and .a detent or de vice is employed which will yield to allow the adjustment of the cone but will prevent the same from movement in the use of the bearing and which is located between the adjustable cone and the complements ry cone or a part of the member supporting said cones. By reason of the stated location of the detent the bearing provided therewith will occupy no more space or not appreciably more space than the same bearing witln outthe detent, and a material saving in size i effected as compared with a bearing having an external or exposed securing device for the adjustable cone. 'lhc detent as well as other parts of the bearing can be differ ently constructed and arranged, as will hereinafter appear.

Inthe accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation of one side of a full size typebar and hanger -connected by a ball bearing embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the opposite side thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation thereof, on an enlarged scale, in line 33, Fig. 1. Fig; i is an enlarged transverse section thereof in line 4.4, Fig. 3, showing the detent in elevation. Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged elevations respectively of the inner and outer sides of one'of the bearing cones detached. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detached side elevation of adetent of different construction adapted for use in the bearing shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional elevation, similar to Fi 3, of a hearing of modified construction. Figs. 9, 1O

areenlarged detached elevations of detentsof different construction suitable for the bearing shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a bearing of different construction. Figs. 12, 13 and 14: are enlarged sectional elevations of three other modifications of the bearing.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The construction of the hearing which is considered at the present time to be the most desirable is shown in Figs. 16, and this construction will first be described. A represents the type-bar or movable member, and B- the hanger or fixed member. The type-bar and hanger consist of simple flat sheet-metal stampings, and they require no machine ivork other than to form an internal annular ball groove a in. the type-bar and to screw thread the opening b 1n the hanger, and also, 1f desired, to reduce the 'thickness' of the eye a on the type-bar for the attachmciit of the l nk or part for operating the type bar. (l C represent two 0on1- plementary bearing cones, or parts provided with conical bearing faces, which are fastened to the hanger by a screw or connecting an adjusting device I) which has a smooth cylindrical stem passing through central holes in thecones'and is screwed into the threaded hole in the hanger. 'lhc cones are located within the opening in the type-bar, and the internal groove of the latter and the bearingfaccs of the cones form an annular race for a single circular row or series of balls E. The cones are flat perforated disks stamped from sheet metal and afterward pressed to the form shown, that is, to provide the bevel or conical bearing face for the balls on one side of each disk and a countersink or conical enlargement of the central opening on the opposite side of the disk. The countersink in the cone C, which is adjustable, is for the purpose of receiving the conical head of the screw D, while the opening of the other cone is similarly shaped for economy in manufacture and also to provide space next to the screw threaded hole of the hanger to receive any part of the thread that may be raised or turned outwardly in tightening up the screw, sothat such raised portion of the thread cannot prevent the cone 0 from seating fiat against the hanger. By forming the cones in this way by heavy pressure, the metal is condensed and a cone produced which after case hardening is much more serviceable than a cone machined from steel and case hardened in the usual way. The cones can be made in this way at a comparatively small cost, and, which is more important, they can be made more exact as to size which, owing to their small size and the limited range of adjustment in the bearing, is a. vital consideration. The pressed cones can be made in large numbers of uniform size, or without the minute variation which would be caused by the wear of tools if made in the usual way. Not only the external form of the cones is insured, but. their central openings through which the connecting screw passes will be exactly alike. Thus by making the cylindrical stems oi the screws exactly the same size and to nicely fit the holes of the cones, the cones will be held truly concentric with the axis of the bearing. The ball grooves in the eype-bars or movable members cannot be machined as accurately as the cones are made, and to compensate for the slight variation thus caused, as well as to enable the adjustment of the bearing to take up looseness, and to compensate for wear, the cone 0 is made adjustable relative to its complementary cone, and a detent or device F is em loyed for holding the cone in the adjuste position and preventing the same and the connecting screw from working loose. This device which, for brevity, will be hereinafter termed a detent is preferably constructed and arranged as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It consists of a thin annular disk or ring of spring metal which is arranged around the connecting screw between the cones and is fluted or corrugated, as shown, to form an equal number of opposite projections to bear against the inner face of each of the cones. When the screw is driven into the hanger the detent will be flattened somewhat between the cones and will act by its resilience to press the inner or fixed cone C against the hanger and the other or adjustable cone C against the head of the screw with force enough to cause sufficient friction to effectually holdthe screw from unscrewing and prevent the cones from turning on the screw in the use of the bearing. The friction can be regulated by employing a detent of proper stiffness. The best results are secured by using a detent stiff enough to require the application of considerable force to drive the screw in far enough to properly.

adjust the bearing.v The described construction and location of the detent device between the bearing cones does not increase the axial length of the bearing and the complete hearing will not require more space in the segment than it would if the detent were omitted. The importance of this will be understood when it is remembered that the available space for each hanger and typebar at the central portion of the Segment in a front-strike machine, in which the hangers are arranged in a single row, is only from one-eighth to nine-sixty-fourths of an inch at the upper ends of the hangers.

Ifthe hearings were of greater width they would have to be arranged'in two rows, which is objectionable. The yielding detent also holds'the fixed cone flat against the hanger and the adjustable cone parallel therewith, so that in case of looseness from wear enough to permit lateral movement of the type-bars, the parallel cones will still cause the bar to vibrate in the proper line radial to the printing point. Other advantages bf the described construction are that the single part hanger affords a longer bearing for the threaded part of the adjusting screw than if it were made of two parts in a bearing of the same length; both the hanger and its connected parts that support the type-bar are less expensive to make; the most minute adjustment is possible; no tools other than a screw driver are required to make the adjustment; as there is no loclcnutor screw the adjustment can be made quicker and without allowance for the action of such a device by simply forcing in the adj usting screw un'til'the looseness is taken up; and as the bearing parts are not connected by a screw thread, they will not be moved to an eccentric position in adjusting them,

Yielding detents-of different construction and made of difierent material could be used and produce the same or the chief advantages enumerated. Fig. 7 shows adetent F in the form of a thin metal spring ring having a series of projecting points which are turned alternately inopposite directions to bear against the inner faces of the two cones. This device acts in a similar manner to the corrugated detent above described. It is not necessary for the detent to be made oi springinetal to permit the adjustment of the bearing and to securely loch: the partsfrom movement. A ring of softmetal or other suitable material adapted to compress or yield under pressure in adjusting the adjustable cone will give good results.

Fig. 8 shows a construction in which the type-bar A, hanger B and connecting screw D are the same as described, but the cones C have small conical faces on their inner sides surrounded bya softmetal detent or ring F Figs. 8 and 9. Whenthe cones are forced together by tightening up the screw,

the ring will be expanded circumferentially and} compnessed laterally and will create the necessary frictionto hold the cones and connecting screw. Instead of'the soft metal detent nag, an irregular sh'aped ring F", Fig. 10, couljdbe employed in this construc tion. 1

The construction shown in Fig. 11 is similar to thatiof Fig. 3 except that op posits grooves are formed in the inner faces and 11, the type-bar is made somewhatof the cones C to receive a short copper or soft metal tube F". In forcing in the screw the tubular detcnt will buckle or yield enough to allow the adjustment to bemade and will cause the friction necessary to hold the parts :irom turning.

' In the constructions shown in Figs. 3, 8

thicker than the diameter ofthe balls and provided with thin annular flanges i which extend inwardly at opposite sides of the balls nearly to. the cones, and the cones are thiclrenough to project beyond the side faces of'thetype-bar to provide clearance between the type-bar and hanger, but when a more compact or thinner bearing is re-.

uired, the type-bar A is made of stock no t icken thanthe: diameter of the balls and the cones C thin enough not to project beyond the sides of the type-bar, as shown in Fig. 12. Tosti'llffirther reduce the space "requiredfor this construction the upper part the conical hole of the fixed cone and extends through both cones. A rivet D is used in this construction instead of the screw and when it is headed down the tubular part of the detent is expanded slightly between the cones. This is a very compact and serviceable bearing and'it can be adjlusted for wear, when necessary, by simply eading down the rivet a little more.

If it is desired to lessen the number of halls in the bearing and thus reduce its cost,

llli

three or four balls can be used with a separater ior spacing them equal distances apart.

In this event the construction shown in Fig.

13 is preferable, in which the adjustable cone C- is made integral with the screw D which has a cylindrical shouldered stem portion extcndin intothe hole of the fixed cone, and hearing against a tubular extension on a soft metal detent washer F soldered or otherwise fixed to the fixed cone. The screw has a screw driver slot (shown by dotted lines). The cylindrical stem ofthe screw forms a smooth seat for a ball separator is, which may be of any suitable construction, and the shoulder of the stem will compress the detent washer in the conical hole of the fixed cone when the screw is forced in and cause friction enough to hold the screw and adjustable cone from turning.

In the constructions thus far described the type-bar is provided with the ball groove and the cones are attached to the hanger. A mere reversal of this would be. to form the groove in the hanger and attach the cones to the type-bar. V I

The cones C in Fig. :14 are both formed in one piece on a screw D screwed into hanger 13?, and the type-bar A is formed with a fixed bearing part or cup 1 and an adjustable cup 8 which is threaded and screwed into the type-bar. The cup can be turned by a spanner wrench engaged in small holes l therein, or by other means. A soft metal detent ring F between the fixed and adjustable cups will allow the adjustment of the latter and hold it by friction when adjusted.

The dctents made of spring metal are advantageous over those made of soft metal or yielding material in that they will permit the adjustment to be relieved if inadvertently made too tight. In all of the constructions described a yielding detent or device is employed which will yield to allow theadjustment and will cause sufficient friction between the parts to maintain the adjustment, and this-device is arranged between the adjustable cone or part and a part on the member supporting such adjustable cone or part; vthat is, within the bearing so that there is no projecting holding device which will prevent the close arrangement of a seriesof the bearings in a segment.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of a type-bar memher, a supporting member therefor, a row of balls between said members, opposed bearing cones supported by one of said members, one of whichcones is adjustable toward the other, and a separate annular detent device which is located in the plane of said row of balls and holds said adjustablecone stationary but which is capable of yielding in the direction of the axis of the bearing to allow adjustments of said cone, substantially as set forth.

- 2. The combination of a type bar member,

and a supporing member therefor arranged side by side, a row of balls between said members in the plane of one member, bear-- ing cones supported by one of said members at one side thereof, one of which cones is adjustable toward the other, and a separate detent d Jice which is arranged between said adjustable cone and the supporting member therefor and is compressible 'in the direction of the axis of the bearing to allow adjustments of said adjustable cone either toward or from the other cone and I hold said adjustable cone by friction in the different adjustments thereof, substantially as set forth.

3. ,The combination of a type-bar memberand a supporting member therefor having bearing ends arranged, side by side, bearing cones supported by one of said members at one side thereof within a hole in the other member, one of said cones being adjustable toward the other, a row of balls between said cones and said other member in the plane of the latter, and a separate annular detent device which is, arranged substantially in the plane of said balls and holds said adjustable cone stationary but is capable of yielding in the direction of the axis of the bearing to allow repeated adjustments. of said cone, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a type-bar supporting member, a movable type-bar member, both members consisting of single flat pieces of uniform thickness throughout their length, avrow ofvballs between said members, 1

bearing cones supported by one of said members, one of which cones is adjustable toward the other, and an annular yielding detent device which is arranged in a position between said adjustable cone and the member supporting said cone and holds said adjustable cone stationary but which is capable of yielding laterally to allow adjust ments of said cone, either toward or from the other cone and hold said adjustable cone in the different adjustments thereof,

substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a fixed member and a movablfetype-bar member, each composed of a fiat piece of metal and having parts ar- -ranged side by side, one of said members having an opening surrounded by an internal ball groove, a pair of opposable cones separate from said other member and located in said opening and forming with said groove a ball race, adevice for connecting said cones to said other member and adjusting one of said cones, a single row of balls in sa1d.race, and an ndependent annular detent device located between the cones for holding the adjustable cone and permitting adjustments thereof 'towardand from the other cone, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a fixed member and a movable type-bar member, each composed of a flat piece of metaland arranged with overlapping parts, one-of said members having an opening surrounded by an internal ball oroove, a pair of detachable cones separate from said members and located in said. opening and forming'with said groove a ball race a screw connecting said cones to one side of said other member, and a yield ing frictional detent located between said cones which holds said screw in adjusted positions, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a movable type-bar member, and a supporting member, one of said members having an lnternal ball groove,

and the other member having an opening for a connecting device, a connecting device seated in said opening, a pair of opposable cones having a sliding bearing on sald con-. necting device, an annular row of balls supported in said groove by said cones,- and an annular yieldingdevice for holding said cones parallel and preventing them fromturning on said connecting device, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a fixed member and a movable type-bar member, one of which members is provided with aninternal ball groove, cones which form with said groove, a ball race and have opposite parallel faces,

a single row of balls in said race, a device arranged centrally of said cones for connecting them'to said other member and adjusting one of said cones, and an annular laterally yielding detent surrounding said adjusting device between and bearing against said parallel faces of the cones for holding them parallel and stationary by friction, substantially as setfort-h.

9. The combination of a fixed member and a movable type-bar member, one of which members has an annular internal ball groove and the other ascrew-threaded opening, a

members and a screw-threaded opening in the other, a screw having a thread at one thereby, an annular ball groove in one of said end and a head at the other with a plain cylindrical central part, a pair of cones hav ing smooth central openings to fit the cylindrical part of the screw and mounted thereon, a single row of balls arranged between said annular groove'and cones, and a laterally yielding'device between the head of they cones which is yieldable in the direction ofopening 1,060,003 7 iii screw and said member having the screwthreaded opening that will permit the cones to be ad usted by forcing the screw into said substantially as set forth. 11. The'combination of a fixed member and a movable type-bar member supported thereb and overlapping the same, an annular all groove in one of said members, a screw seated in the other member, a pair of opposable cones on said screw, a single row 0 balls interposed'between said groove and cones, and a device arranged between the the axis of the bearing and acts to adjustably secure the cones, the said cones,screw, and yielding device being all arranged sub- I stantially within the thickness of the two overlapping parts, substantially as set forth.

12. The. combination of a movable typebar member and a supporting member,'one of said members having an internal ball groove, and the other member having; a screw-threaded opening, a screw seated in said opening, a pair of opposable cones supported by said screw, an annular row of balls supported in said groove by said cones, and

independent means located between the planes of the outer sides of said members threaded opening and for adjustably locking the screw in said opening, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination of a stationary member and a movable type-bar member having overlapping parts a row of balls between said members and located substantially in the plane of one of said members, bearing cones supported by one at said members, one of which comes is adjust'al lle relative to. the other, and a separate deten't'device which is located between the planes of the outer faces of the overlap ing parts of said members and holds said djustable cone stationary by friction but which is capable of yielding laterally to allow adjustment ofsaid cone, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand, this 4th day of Oct, 1906. v

i OSCAR (LKAVLE.

Witnesses:

'CHEs'rER U. REID, O'r'ro SOHILLY. 

